Rosenborg Slot, København

The making of…

It was both the Vikings and Denmark’s world-renowned design legacy that first drew me to Copenhagen. Just a short train ride away, I found myself in Roskilde, standing in awe before the remains of Viking ships—ingenious vessels that once carried warriors across seas, raided neighboring coasts, and even reached the shores of North America. The Danes have been masterful designers for millennia, but by the time Rosenborg Castle was built, their architecture was deeply shaped by their neighbor’s influence.

During the Danish Renaissance (late 1500s to early 1600s), Denmark took a lot of inspiration from the Netherlands, which at the time was booming with trade, art, and new ideas. Since both countries were part of the same commercial networks, it made sense that the Danes picked up on Dutch design trends—like stepped gables, fancy brickwork, and perfectly balanced façades. Of course, they gave it their own twist by using local materials and a softer, Scandinavian color palette that fit the northern light.

As an admirer of Dutch art, I was excited to wander through Rosenborg Castle and see those influences in person.

Quick Facts:

  • Built in 1606 as a summer retreat for King Christian IV.

  • Beneath the castle lie vaults that safeguard Denmark’s Crown Jewels, brought out only for special ceremonies.

  • The 12 massive tapestries in the Knight’s Hall serve as powerful political propaganda against Denmark’s longtime rivals, the Swedes. They were expertly woven in Brussels, the Renaissance hub for master weavers.

  • The castle’s garden, Kongens Have, is Denmark’s oldest royal garden and remains a beloved public park today.

  • Rosenborg embodies Denmark’s golden age under Christian IV, reflecting a time of great advances in art, science, and exploration.

 

In true Renaissance style, Rosenborg Castle is a cabinet of curiosities—full of hidden wonders you might easily overlook. Take, for example, the intricate clock hidden beneath a birdcage or the cleverly designed sound channels in the room’s bottom corner, which allowed the king to listen to live music played from the basement, next to the wine cellar.

The royal privy is a standout, lavishly covered with around 3,000 hand-painted Delft tiles imported from the Netherlands—a luxury that didn’t stop the king from decking out his bathroom from floor to ceiling. 

The castle is a true testament to intellectual exploration, filled with art, clocks, scientific instruments, and even erotic art. One room, closed to the public, houses the king’s private collection of erotica—reflecting the era’s curiosity about every facet of life. I highly recommend checking out their impressive virtual tour on the castle’s website. 

 

Get a little piece of Copenhagen

Here are some of the formats that I’ve made this image into.

The Original

Reproduction

Sticker

Dive a little deeper

Books set in Denmark

  • Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen

  • Hamlet by Shakespeare

  • To Siberia by Per Petterson

  • We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen

  • And if you’re into crime mysteries:

    Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg,

    The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup

    The Midnight Witness by Sara Blaedel

Books about Denmark

  • Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings by Neil Price

  • How to Be Danish by Patrick Kingsley

  • Copenhagen Tales by Helen Constantine

  • The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking

  • Scandinavians by Robert Ferguson

Danish Artists

  • P. C. Skovgaard (1817-1975) b. Zealand. Romantic Nationalism

  • Anna Ancher (1859-1935) b. Skagen. Danish Impressionism

  • Michael Ancher (1849-1927) b. Rutsker. Danish Impressionism

  • Peder Severin Krøyer (1851-1909) b. Norway

  • Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) b. island of St. Thomas. French Impressionism